July 12, 18S3. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
25 
E. H. Wallis, Esq., Devonhurst, Chiswick, who had a due proportion of Cordy- 
lines, Crotons, Dracaenas, and similar foliage plants, with Liliums, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Ilydrangeas, and Gloxinias, neatly margined with Adiantums and 
Selaginellas. Mr. Buckland, gardener to H. Pearks, Esq.,Heathfield Cottage, 
secured the second pifize for a neat combination of Fuchsias, Lilies, Abutilons, 
Caladiums, with Panicum variegatum and Selaginella as a margin. Mr. 
Huckle, gardener to B. Hardy, Esq., Gordon House, took the third position 
with a fairly good collection of Begonias, Fuchsias, Coleuses, Cissus discolor, 
and others. 
Stove and greenhouse plants were only represented by one collection, 
from Mr. H. James, Castle Nursery, Lower Norwood, which, however, 
comprised some very healthy and well-flowered specimens. Caladiums 
were well shown by Mr. Buckland ; and Mr. Harding, gardener to J. R. 
Starling, Esq., The Chestnuts, Harwood Road, large well-coloured plants. 
Coleuses also were contributed by Messrs. Wright; Barker, gardener to C. 
Brown, Esq., Evasleigh, Harwood Road; and Hardy, who were the prize- 
takers. Mr. G. Wheeler, gardener to H. Irving, Esq., The Grange, Brook 
Green, staged six neat Coleuses of Mr. King’s new varieties, such as Ada 
Sentance, Edith Sentance, &c., well coloured and praiseworthy, but too 
small to gain a position in the class. Gloxinias were well represented by 
Messrs. Prewett, Brown, and Hardy; table plants of a most suitable size 
being shown by Mr. Otto Hickle, The Gardens, Lebanon House, Twickenham, 
and Mr. Hardy. 
Fme-foliage plants were large and vigorous, especially those from Mr. 
H. James, which gained the premier position in the class for six. Pandanus 
Yeitchii, Thrinax elegans, and Croton Wiesmanni were remarkably good. 
M>'. W. Brown, who was second, also had a finely coloured Croton 
Wiesmanni, and a healthy Ptychosperma Alexandra, Messrs. Hooper & Co. 
following with smaller examples. Six handsome exotic Ferns were con¬ 
tributed by Mr. A. Wright. Gymnogramma ochracea, Adiantum decorum, 
trapeziforme, and farleyense, with Pteris serrulata cristata, were uncom¬ 
monly vigorous and fresh, well deserving the chief honours accorded them. 
Messrs. Fromow & Son had a similarly fine half-dozen, Davallia Mooreana 
and Dicksonia antarctica being good. 
Fruit was very moderately shown, but two exhibits of Grapes were 
remarkable. These were from Mr. Baird, gardener to C. H. Daw, Esq., 
Holmfield, St. Stephen’s Road, who was placed first in the classes for black 
and white Grapes. In the former two magnificent bunches of Black Ham- 
burghs were staged, large alike in berry and bunch and finely coloured. In 
the other a superb bunch of Buckland Sweetwater, grandly, ripened, with 
remarkably large berries, attracted much attention—as it well deserved, for 
it is one of the finest we have ever seen. A handsome bunch of Duke of 
Buccleuch was also staged, the berries being of enormous size aud excellent 
flavour. Other prizetakers in these classes were Mr. Coombs, gardener to 
Sir H. Meux, Sheen House, Mortlake, and Mr. Huckleby, who had small 
Black Hamburghs and Muscats. Small fruits, such as Currants, Raspberries, 
Strawberries, Ac., were contributed by Messrs. Coombs, Stanton, Stedman, 
and Hickle. 
Vegetables were rather small, Messrs. Huckleby, Stanton, and Coombs 
taking the prizes ; while Messrs. Carter’s prizes for new Peas were won by 
Mr. G. Williams, gardener to C. Liddell, Esq., Peasmarsh Place. Sussex, and 
Mr. R. Phillips, The Gardens, The Deodars, Meopham. 
Miscellaneous groups and collections of plants were numerous, one of 
the most notable being that from Mr. May, gardener to the Marquis of Bute, 
Chiswick House, which comprised handsome specimens of Pandanus, An- 
thurium acaule, Adiantum farleyense, and flowering plants. Messrs. C. Lee 
and Son, Hammersmith, had a tastefully arranged and beautiful collection 
of ornamental variegated shrubs and trees, together with Roses in pots and 
cut Roses. Messrs. Hooper & Co. had a collection of double Potentillas, 
choice hardy flowers, Dahlias, and Pinks ; Mr. H. Howell, Hammersmith, 
having a large collection of Gold and Silver Tricolor Pelargoniums. 
AUTUMN CABBAGES. 
By these I do not mean the plants raised from seed sown in July or 
August and planted in September to head the following spring. The 
most valuable autumn Cabbages are those planted out at the present 
time, and which come in for use in October and November. Cultivators, 
more especially those having large demands for autumn vegetables, would 
find it profitable to put out a good plantation of Cabbages now. A piece 
of ground from which early Potatoes have been cleared would answer 
capitally for the crop. If rather poor it must be made rich with manure, 
which should be dug in ; but if the soil is in good order it need not be 
moved, but simply levelled down, the surface cleaned and planted. 
Many persons will still have some small plants on hand which were left 
when the first spring-sown plants were selected and planted, and if these 
were thinned out or transplanted, and grown 2 or '3 inches apart, they 
will now be in excellent order for planting in the manner indicated. 
Savoys are frequently planted to become useful in autumn, but they are 
never really good until after the first frost, or about Christmas time, and 
all who can now be induced to grow Cabbages for an autumn supply will 
find an ample compensation for the labour and ground devoted to their 
culture.—A Kitchen Gabdener. 
FRITILLARIA MELEAGRIS. 
The Crown Imperial is one of the most common of garden flowers, 
though it was a “rare strange plant” in Gerard’s time, and when 
bearing its majestic heads of blooms it has a very attractive appear¬ 
ance in borders amongst dwarfer plants. The “ Chequered Lily or 
Daffodil,” as Fritillaria Meleagris has been variously named, is quite 
as well known in most gardens, but as an old favourite a figure is 
now given of it to remind amateurs who are commencing the culture 
of hardy flowers that some of the best are to be found in the ranks 
of the oldest. This Fritillaria is a native of ’Europe, but was early 
introduced to this country, and has now become naturalised, being 
found wild in some parts, generally in moist meadows or similar 
positions, but is rare. Phillips mentions that “ it has been found 
between Mortlake and Kew, where the plant was formerly called 
Snakeshead; and on account of its growing plentifully in a particular 
pasture of that neighbourhood there is a field called Snakeshead 
Meadow.” It is now found from Norfolk and Bedford to Sussex and 
in neighbouring counties. The flowers are usually of a yellowish 
or white ground, regularly barred with red or purple, varying in depth 
and richness. 
The plant succeeds well in any moist light soil in a shady position 
and can be readily increased either by offsets or seed, the latter 
being sown immediately after it is ripe, and the seedlings subsequently 
planted out. 
NOTES ON CUCUMBERS. 
A BREAKDOWN OF THE “EXPRESS.” 
Continuing this subject from last week, I will now describe my 
culture in a lean-to house facing east. It is 14 feet high at the back, 
5 feet 6 inches in front, giving me a 13-feet rafter, glazed with 12 by 
20-inch squares. There are three rows ot 4-inch pipes under the 
bed and two rows in front, and three rows down the path for heating 
the atmosphere. I planted intending to give the Express system a 
full trial. For the first month all went well, then I began to have 
great difficulty in preventing flagging and burning. For two very 
hot days I watched the plants, and did all I could in the way. of 
watering, syringing, and keeping replenished forty evaporating 
troughs 3 feet long. The house is 80 feet. I then to my grief found 
after two unusually hot days I had lost all my first crop of fruit. 
They looked W’ell before they were in bloom. In addition to losing 
the fruit I lost a quantity of good foliage, the thermometer registering 
120°. Seeing the damage I procured some scrim canvas and shaded 
as required, and the plants are now just coming round. Elliott’s 
